Scottish Executive

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2183 by Iain Gray on 16 November 1999, how many elderly people have attended day care centres, broken down by local authority, in the years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-date.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table details the number of people attending day centres primarily intended for older people in 1997 and 1998. 1998 is the latest year for which data are available as this census is now conducted on a triennial basis. The methodology used in 1998 was different from that used in 1997 and therefore figures for the two years are not comparable.

  People Attending1 Day Centres for Older People2 1997 and 1998

  


 


Number Attending 1997 
  

Number Attending 1998 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

684 
  

594 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

865 
  

700 
  



Angus 
  

265 
  

263 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

306 
  

141 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

52 
  

60 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

931 
  

629 
  



Dundee City 
  

217 
  

178 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

130 
  

147 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

20 
  

20 
  



East Lothian 
  

0 
  

0 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

103 
  

122 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

1,663 
  

962 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

66 
  

59 
  



Falkirk 
  

108 
  

300 
  



Fife 
  

627 
  

603 
  



Glasgow City 
  

2,256 
  

1,370 
  



Highland 
  

1,302 
  

1,261 
  



Inverclyde 
  

58 
  

188 
  



Midlothian 
  

42 
  

17 
  



Moray 
  

120 
  

116 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

180 
  

184 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

477 
  

565 
  



Orkney 
  

111 
  

105 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

430 
  

344 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

705 
  

727 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

433 
  

351 
  



Shetland 
  

133 
  

148 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

714 
  

694 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

914 
  

721 
  



Stirling 
  

38 
  

48 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

436 
  

457 
  



West Lothian 
  

473 
  

288 
  



Scotland 
  

14,859 
  

12,362 
  



  Source: SEHD, Community Care Statistics, D1-B Return.

  Notes:

  1. Number attending is the number of people on the register of a centre during the census week in March, regardless of whether they actually attend the centre during that week.

  2. Figures are for day centres primarily intended for older people, some people attending these centres may belong to other client groups; it is also possible that some older people may attend centres primarily intended for other client groups.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, whether any balance of the resources allocated to each local authority to resolve problems of delayed discharge which is not required for this purpose is ring-fenced for the care of the elderly.

Malcolm Chisholm: Where local authorities have judged that they can resolve problems of delayed discharge without using all the resources allocated, they have been asked to deploy the balance to improve the level and extent of other services, for example those provided to older people.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, how it satisfied itself that any resources which local authorities are proposing to deploy elsewhere are not required in order to resolve problems of delayed discharge.

Malcolm Chisholm: Local authorities were required to discuss and agree their proposals with the corresponding health board(s) and Trust(s). Similarly, proposals to use the resources for other purposes should show that senior health board staff have agreed that the resources are not required to tackle local issues relating to delayed discharge.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, which local authorities indicated that they could resolve problems of delayed discharge without using all of the resources allocated for this purpose.

Malcolm Chisholm: Shetland Islands Council is the only such authority.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, whether it will undertake any independent monitoring of whether local authorities’ proposals to address problems of delayed discharge are being implemented successfully.

Malcolm Chisholm: Each local authority is required to provide confirmation in mid-January 2001 that its proposal (or revised proposal) is being acted upon successfully.

  In conjunction, the department will continue to monitor delayed discharge through a national census. These will supply an ongoing flow of information on numbers, reasons and causes of delayed discharge. Among other things, this information will show whether or not local plans are delivering on outcomes.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, what action it will take if local authorities which indicated that problems of delayed discharge could be tackled without using all of the resources allocated for this purpose are not successfully tackling the problem in mid-January and, in particular, whether it will then require any balance of resources deployed elsewhere to be transferred back to tackling delayed discharges.

Malcolm Chisholm: That is a situation we would not expect to arise but, if it did, we would take appropriate action consistent with effective use of resources both centrally and locally.

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10377 by Susan Deacon on 1 November 2000, whether local authorities had to specify how any balance of resources which was not required to tackle delayed discharge problems would be spent and whether the details of any proposed redeployments of funding had to be authorised by the Executive.

Malcolm Chisholm: Where local authorities have judged that they can resolve problems of delayed discharge without using all of the resources allocated, they have been asked to redeploy the balance to improve the level and extent of other services, for example those provided to older people.

  The department will consider changes made to proposals or revised proposals and will make adjustment to allocations if these are not found to be satisfactory.

Drug Misuse

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the provision of a drug detoxification, rehabilitation and throughcare centre for North East Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: We offered grant earlier this month to Phoenix House for an intensive day care rehabilitation facility in Aberdeen and to Turning Point for a day rehabilitation service in Aberdeenshire.

  We expect these to be supported in subsequent years through the substantial additional sums we are providing for treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers within the overall package of £100 million drug monies announced recently: £10 million for treatment and £21 million for rehabilitation over three years. It is for the local Drug Action Teams and their constituent agencies to consider the adequacy of existing drug misuse services, including the need for joined-up detoxification and rehabilitation facilities, in their proposals for use of these monies locally.

European Convention on Human Rights

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list, by Sheriff Court jurisdiction and date, the number of "devolution issues" raised in Scottish courts since the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law and whether it will indicate the substance of each of these challenges and the current stage each challenge has reached.

Colin Boyd: Between 20 May 1999 and 29 November 2000, a total of 969 devolution issues were served on the Lord Advocate at Crown Office.

  Of those, the statistics available indicate that:

  2 (0.21%) raised issues in terms of Article 3 ECHR;

  42 (4.33%) raised issues in terms of Article 5;

  824 (85.04%) raised issues in terms of Article 6;

  10 (1.03%) raised issues in terms of Article 7; and

  71 (7.33%) raised issues in terms of Article 8.

  Of the total number of devolution issues served on the Lord Advocate, 37 (3.82%) were decided against the Crown. Of those:

  36 (3.72% of the total number served) related to issues under Article 6 (of which 30 (3.1% of the total number served) related to the guarantee of "trial within a reasonable time"); and

  1 (0.1% of the total number served) related to an issue under Article 7.

  The above statistics have been collated from various Crown Office sources. Information is not available to break down numbers of devolution issues raised by Sheriff Court jurisdiction and date or to allow specification of the current stage each challenge by devolution issue minute has reached.

Finance

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage the budget of each of its departments increased as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), and what percentage of any additional funds made available by the CSR increase each department received.

Angus MacKay: I refer to the following table. For ease this is set out in a similar format to Table 1 in Making a Difference for Scotland .

  Table 1: Increased budgets by Portfolio as a % of 2000-01 budget and increase in 2003-04 as % of total increase1 

  


Programme 
  

% change in each portfolio budget from 2000-01 
  to 2003-04 
  

Additional funds received by portfolio in 
  2003-04 as a % of total increased funding over 2000-01 to 
  2003-04 
  



Central Government 
  

 


 




Justice 
  

21.5 
  

3.1 
  



Crown Office 
  

19.7 
  

0.3 
  



NHS 
  

23.4 
  

34.3 
  



Community Care 
  

596.2 
  

0.3 
  



Food Standards 
  

45.0 
  

0.0 
  



Transport 
  

56.2 
  

4.5 
  



Environment 
  

10.4 
  

1.0 
  



Rural Affairs 
  

10.8 
  

0.6 
  



Forestry Commission 
  

4.8 
  

0.0 
  



Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 
  

15.3 
  

7.7 
  



Education, Arts, Sport & Culture 
  

25.8 
  

3.2 
  



Communities 
  

29.2 
  

5.1 
  



Administration and associated departments 
  

9.7 
  

0.5 
  



European Funds 
  

2.6 
  

0.1 
  



Total Central Government 
  

21.8 
  

60.9 
  



Total Local Government 
  

20.3 
  

33.1 
  



Of which:


 


 




LA Capital


68.7 
  

6.7 
  



LA Current


17.2 
  

26.3 
  



TOTAL ANNUALLY MANAGED EXPENDITURE 
  

12.7 
  

6.2 
  



TOTAL MANAGED EXPENDITURE 
  

20.4 
  

100.0 
  



  Notes:

  1. The table only covers main SE Portfolios and excludes figures for Scottish Parliament and Audit Scotland, Capital Modernisation Fund and Reserve.

Health

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Acute Services Review Body has met since its inception.

Susan Deacon: The Acute Services Group has met 14 times since its inception in August 1998.

Health

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve awareness of Aspergers Syndrome.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10424.

Health

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the services available to people who suffer from a dual diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome and acute psychosis.

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish specialist resources for those suffering from Aspergers Syndrome and acute psychosis other than long-term psychiatric units.

Malcolm Chisholm: Services for individuals diagnosed within the autistic spectrum disorder are provided by health boards and local authorities, based on their assessment of the needs of their respective areas. Increased awareness and better understanding of all mental illness are part of our social inclusion agenda for all, and of our work to maximise the life opportunities for all vulnerable individuals and groups.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the quality of health and social care services, and the general wellbeing of people with learning disabilities and mental health problems, to enable them to play a full part in society. The Learning Disability Review Report, launched on 11 May, recommends the establishment of a national service network to improve awareness and understanding of the needs of people within the autistic spectrum disorder. Together with a new Scottish Centre for Learning Disabilities, both will have important roles in how future services are designed and delivered.

  The report also recommends that local authorities and health boards should jointly draw up "partnership in practice" (PiP) agreements by June 2001 which will serve as the strategic planning document for meeting the needs of all people with learning disabilities. A key component of these first PiP’s should include proposals for how local authorities and health boards will meet the needs of those within the autistic spectrum disorder in their area, and cover mainstream and specialist support services.

  We are providing £36 million over the next three years for a Change Fund to assist local authorities implement the report.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to health boards and GPs concerning the treatment of sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Susan Deacon: The Executive has not so far issued guidelines on the treatment of people with ME/CFS. Good practice guidelines are, however, being developed by a working group led by the Chief Medical Officer in England, and on which the Executive is represented. The group’s report is expected in spring 2001, in the light of which guidelines will be prepared for issue in Scotland.

Junior Doctors

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Implementation Support Group (ISG) on junior doctors’ hours and working conditions will make its next report and whether this report will include an update on the non-compliance rates reported to the ISG by NHS Trusts.

Susan Deacon: The New Deal Implementation Support Group (ISG) plans to submit its next report in March 2001. The report will include the latest information on NHS Trust compliance with targets and standards on junior doctors’ hours and working conditions.

Junior Doctors

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bonuses have been paid to and fines imposed on NHS Trusts for compliance with the targets and standards of the New Deal for Junior Doctors since 31 March 2000.

Susan Deacon: The system of bonuses and penalties for Trusts based on performance against New Deal targets and standards which I announced in September 1999 was intended to act as an incentive to overcome the remaining obstacles to full compliance. At the time the latest returns from Trusts indicated that only 10% of junior doctors in Scotland were working outside the 56 hour limit. The detailed work which the New Deal Implementation Support Group (ISG) undertook with Trusts prior to its report to me in March 2000 revealed that the scale of non-compliance was greater than previously reported.

  In the light of information from the ISG, I informed Trusts that, while I remained determined that junior doctors’ hours and working conditions must be improved as a matter of priority, I would postpone the imposition of financial penalties provided that they initiated remedial action. The ISG has since worked with Trusts to identify problems and develop solutions in this area.

  The concept of introducing incentives for those Trusts to meet New Deal targets has subsequently been incorporated into the agreement between the UK Health Departments and the BMA for a new contract for junior doctors. The contract which took effect from 1 December will reward the most hard pressed junior doctors and provide a real financial incentive for Trusts to reduce doctors’ hours. The cost to Trusts of non-compliant posts will increase significantly at intervals throughout the next two years. The Scottish Executive has worked with the Scottish Junior Doctors’ Committee (SJDC) and NHS Trusts in Scotland to implement the contract.

Junior Doctors

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that NHS Trusts have sufficient funds to enable them to comply with the targets and standards of the New Deal for Junior Doctors.

Susan Deacon: On 28 June I announced that we would recruit 100 extra junior doctors in Scotland to be targeted at areas with an identified need for additional resources. We have already appointed 40 junior doctors in shortage specialties. The remaining 60 will be in place by the end of this financial year.

  Health boards were recently given their revenue allocations for 2001-02. The average increase in unified budgets is 6.5% which represents a cash increase of over £270 million. This is on top of significant increases in funding during 2000-01. It is the responsibility of health boards to determine local priorities for the use of funds including meeting the targets and standards of the New Deal for Junior Doctors.

Language Training

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to expand and develop the provision of teachers of English to speakers of other languages teaching.

Mr Jack McConnell: The provision of the teaching of English to speakers of other languages is offered by a number of different institutions and in a wide range of courses. The provision of these courses and the level of provision is a matter for the institutions concerned. Some institutions have formed a consortium called the Scottish English Language Teachers in Consortium (SELTIC) which aims to promote and co-ordinate this sector.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the assessment, referred to in Investing In You , being carried out by the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health Services relating to the care proposals for mentally disordered offenders, has been carried out and when the results will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The review has been completed and the findings are being considered. Area digests will be provided to all local agencies involved in the review and outcome guidance will issue in due course addressing the multi-agency dimension required for safe care and accommodation for this group.

Ministerial Correspondence

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to my letter of 28 December 1999 regarding the financial position of Tayside health services.

Susan Deacon: Despite an exhaustive search, I regret that there is no record of the receipt of the letter.

  Tayside’s financial position has been the subject of widespread publicity and debate. I expect the NHS in Tayside to keep local MSPs informed of developments.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care intends to reply to my letter of 7 August 2000 regarding my constituent Mr T Graham.

Malcolm Chisholm: A reply was issued on Thursday 21 December 2000.

NHS Equipment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to replace medical equipment deemed to be beyond its standard life in (a) each NHS Trust and (b) Scotland.

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of NHS owned medical equipment (a) in each NHS Trust and (b) Scotland is beyond its standard life.

Susan Deacon: Details of NHS Trust medical equipment replacement programmes are not held centrally.

  The Executive is committed to increasing the monies available for capital expenditure in the NHS in Scotland to improve equipment and facilities to improve patient care.

New Opportunities Fund

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much New Opportunities Fund money will be distributed in Scotland in the current year and how much of this will be spent on school projects.

Allan Wilson: Since its first awards in July 1999, the New Opportunities Fund has made 201 awards totalling £16,248,000 in Scotland, of which £9.7 million has been committed under the Out of School Hours Learning programme. In addition over £32 million has been allocated for ICT training for teachers and public library staff and the building of the Public Library Network in Scotland. Information on the current financial year will be available at the end of March 2001.

Prison Service

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per prisoner place is at HMP Kilmarnock and whether this cost is calculated using the same methodology as Scottish Prison Service figures.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The total cost of HMP Kilmarnock over the 25-year period of the contract is approximately £130 million in Net Present Value terms. This equates to an annual cost per prisoner place of around £11,000 in Net Present Value terms.

  Using the same methodology, the annual cost per prisoner place for the Scottish Prison Service designing, constructing, financing and operating HMP Kilmarnock over 25 years would be around £21,000 in Net Present Value terms.

Rail Services

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of South East Scotland Transport (SESTRANS) regarding all rail approaches to Waverley station, who is funding any research arising from such discussions, who is undertaking the lead role in any ongoing work and when it and SESTRANS will receive reports arising from any research.

Sarah Boyack: Preliminary discussions are underway amongst SESTRANS, the shadow Strategic Rail Authority, the Scottish Executive and the rail industry on the merits of conducting a rail capacity study for Central Scotland. Such a study would include consideration of rail approaches to Waverley station. No decisions have been taken on the lead role, finances or timing.

Sexual Abuse

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what co-ordination there is, on a Scotland-wide basis, of services relating to the treatment of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Malcolm Chisholm: The long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse require considered and sensitive long-term care responses. These care responses must be directly related to individual assessed needs, both physical and psychological. Health boards and NHS Trusts are expected to work with their care partners to develop services for the treatment and rehabilitation of such psychological disorders, based on a proper assessment of needs.

  The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland provides a template for the best inter-agency organisation of such services and support, based on the aim that all needs are met.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake a mass media campaign, along the lines of the Department of Health’s "Don’t Give Up Giving Up" campaign, offering practical tips to smokers on giving up.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is taking forward a range of measures to reduce the levels of smoking. These include the HEBS "Think About It" advertising campaign for young people and several "Top Tips" adverts launched last February which focus on practical aspects of stopping smoking. Follow-up support, advice and information, "You Can Stop Smoking" is also provided through the freephone helpline "Smokeline".

  The Executive has provided HEBS with additional funding from the £26 million Health Improvement Fund which will enable a new mass media campaign for teenagers to be delivered in the New Year. Other multi-agency work is also intended on tobacco issues covering adults, young people, prevention and cessation and the particular needs of ethnic minority groups and vulnerable young people.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8267 by Susan Deacon on 10 July 2000, whether it has received from Her Majesty’s Government a copy of the recently agreed protocol on under-age sales and, if so, whether it intends to review its position on the use of children in test purchases of tobacco products.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is aware of the Enforcement Protocol which has been launched in England and Wales, and is working with COSLA and Scottish Trading Standards towards the development of a Scottish Tobacco Enforcement Protocol for use by local authorities in carrying out their duty in relation to the Children and Young Person (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.

  The Lord Advocate is currently reviewing prosecution policy in relation to the use of children in test purchases of tobacco products. The outcome of this review will be taken into account in finalising the Scottish Protocol.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture in the Parliament on 9 November 2000, why there was no specific reference to support for voluntary sector sports clubs or local Sports Councils.

Allan Wilson: The Executive fully recognise the vital role played by volunteers in clubs and local sports councils in the local delivery of sport in Scotland, and we, and sport scotland, are committed to seeing it developed further and I expect the positive outcome of the spending review for sport scotland announced on 9 November will be of benefit to all engaged in sport in Scotland. I understand, for example, that sport scotland will soon introduce a club development programme which will benefit local clubs. It is also promoting a volunteer development programme in conjunction with the Scottish Association of Local Sports Council (SALSC), the umbrella body of local sports councils, and local authorities. sport scotland supports SALSC through an annual grant currently at £21,000. Funding for local sports councils is a matter for individual local authorities.

Young People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with regard to the "one stop" approach for vulnerable teenagers.

Nicol Stephen: A working group, comprising representatives of local authorities, relevant public agencies and voluntary bodies representing the interests of young people leaving local authority care, is considering carefully the best way to achieve a "one stop" service providing advice, guidance and financial assistance.

  We expect to receive its report early this year.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Presiding Officer which recruitment agencies the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body uses.

Sir David Steel: The principal recruitment agency used by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to fill temporary vacancies is Pertemps. The SPCB also uses Kelly Services and Office Personnel but to a much lesser extent.

Scottish Parliament Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body follows any guidelines when contracting recruitment agencies and what factors, other than cost, are considered in such decisions.

Sir David Steel: When contracting for recruitment agency services the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body follows the guidelines set out in the Scottish Parliament Procurement Policy Manual.

  Factors other than cost taken into consideration when reaching contract award decisions include capability, technical ability and financial viability. In the evaluation for recruitment agency contracts, the following criteria were used:

  


Organisation 
  

Length of time established 
  



 


Number of employees & organisation structure 
  



 


Membership of relevant associations etc. 
  



Administration 
  

How performance of placements are monitored 
  



 


Type of management information available & quality 
  procedures 
  



 


Support & guidance available to the placement and the 
  Scottish Parliament 
  



Placements 
  

Previous experience of placements similar to our requirements 
  



 


How many suitably qualified candidates they currently have 
  



 


How they envisage resourcing the service required 
  



 


Contingency arrangements e.g. cover for sickness